Similarly, a study published in November 2015 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases found that men with ankylosing spondylitis had a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than men who didn’t have AS. The IIEF patient questionnaire asks about the quality and quantity of erections over the previous four weeks, as well as about sexual desire and enjoyment. Maybe your symptoms have made formerly enjoyable positions or activities awkward or uncomfortable, or perhaps you feel too tired to even want to have sex.Īlthough sexual dysfunction with AS isn't a foregone conclusion, a number of studies have shown a high incidence of sexual dysfunction among both men and women with ankylosing spondylitis.Ī meta-analysis published in February 2015 in the Journal of Rheumatology , for example, found that men with ankylosing spondylitis had lower scores on every aspect of sexual function included in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). If you are living with ankylosing spondylitis, you may have found that the fatigue, pain, and stiffness associated with the condition are affecting your sex life.
